This book includes work on sadomasochism from across the social sciences including discussions of the history and culture of SM, medical and legal issues, along with theory and original research on the topic. With contributions from academics, practitioners and activists, this book represents some of the most recent cutting edge work in the field.

SECTION I: INTRODUCING SADOMASOCHISM Situating Sadomasochism; D.Langdridge & M.Barker The Cultural Formation of S/M: History and Analysis; K.Sisson Themes of SM Expression; C.Moser & P.J.Kleinplatz Is SM Pathological?; P.J.Kleinplatz & C.Moser Sado-masochism and the Law; M.Weait SECTION II: THEORISING PAIN AND INJURY Speaking the Unspeakable: S/M and the Eroticisation of Pain; D.Langdridge The 'Bodily Practices' of Consensual 'SM', Spirituality and 'Transcendence'; A.Beckmann Beyond Safety: Erotic Asphyxiation and the Limits of SM Discourse; L.Downing SECTION III: EMPIRICAL RESEARCH Sexual Fantasies of S/M Practitioners: The Impact of Gender and S/M Role on Fantasy Content; M.R.Yost On Becoming a Gay SMer; A Sexual Scripting Perspective; E.Chaline Playgrounds and New Territories: the Potentaial of BDSM Practices to Queer Genders; R.Bauer SECTION IV: THERAPEUTIC PERSPECTIVES The Power of Play: The Potentials and Pitfalls in Healing Narratives of BDSM M.Barker , C.Gupta & A.Iantaffi Shadowplay: S/M Journeys to Ourselves; D. Easton Some Beneficial Aspects of Exploring Personas and Role Play in the BDSM Context; W.A.Henkin SECTION V: BRIDGING THE ACADEMIC/ACTIVIST DIVIDE CARAS: An Initiative to Link Alternative Sexual Communities and Academic Researchers; R.A.Sprott & R.Bienvenu Turning the World Upside Down: Developing a Tool for Training about SM; M.Barker Who's in Charge in an SM Scene; Sophia SM and Sexual Freedom: A Life History; G.Denkinson Experiences of a Pro-Domme; M.Alize Total Power Exchange in a Modern Family: A Personal Persepctive; R.Green

'One could say that Safe, Sane and Consensual poses more questions than it answers, but it is not necessarily a criticism it was high time that these questions were asked, dispelling some damaging stereotypes in the process.' - Toni Brennan, Feminism & Psychology '[A]n impressive collection of empirical, theoretical, historical, clinical, personal, and legal perspectives on sadomasochism and related practices...The collection spans an impressive array of subjects, beginning with a section on the history and basic principles of S/M that would likely work well for graduate and undergraduate students as well as those unfamiliar with or underinformed about S/M... [B]oth in its scope and in its sensitivity to the multi-faceted dimensions of S/M practices, [it] offers a unique and much needed look at S/M as powerful, revealing, and nonpathological.' - Breanne Fahs, Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy 'The book is a valuable contribution to the field...In the face of a scarcity of research into S/M culture and practice, the book provides an excellent entry point into many of the discussions around S/M. Its didactic structure, its attempts to dispel common myths and stereotypes, and the lack of heavy theoretical jargon turns it a good teaching source.' - Christian Klesse, Sexualities

ROBIN BAUER Lecturer in Gender and Science Studies and Queer Studies, University of Hamburg, Germany ANDREA BECKMANN Senior Lecturer in Criminology, University of Lincoln, UK ROBERT V BIENVENU II Team Leader of the Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities and Chair of the CARAS Research Advisory Committee, USA ERIC CHALINE a PhD candidate, London South Bank University, UK GRANT DENKINSON calls himself male, bisexual and polyamorous LISA DOWNING is Chair of French Discourses of Sexuality and Director of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Study of Sexuality and Gender in Europe (CISSGE), University of Exeter, UK DOSSIE EASTON one of the most prolific writers on the subject of SM CAMELIA GUPTA is a mental health worker, independent researcher and journalist WILLIAM HENKIN is a licensed psychotherapist and a board certified sex therapist ALESSANDRA IANTAFFI is an active researcher and lecturer in the fields of diversity, inclusion, identities and research theories and methodologies PEGGY J. KLEINPLATZ Associate Professor of Medicine and Clinical Professor of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Canada CHARLES MOSER is Chair, Department of Sexual Medicine, Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, San Francisco, USA KATHY SISSON, MA is an independent scholar in California, USA SOPHIA is polyamorous, bisexual and identifies as a switch RICHARD A SPROTT Executive Director of the Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities, and Lecturer, Department of Human Development, California State University, USA MATTHEW WEAIT Senior Lecturer in Law and Legal Studies, Faculty of Continuing Education, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK